I was convinced I had a drive says Alguersuari

Jaime Alguersuari will not give up on a return to Formula One in the future despite being messed around over the past year.

The 22-year-old Spaniard has already clocked up 46 races during his career despite not getting behind the wheel of a Formula One car for a race since November 2011.

He came through the Red Bull young driver development programme and spent two-and-a-half years with the Toro Rosso team.

His best finish came in Italy [7th] during what turned out to be his final season for the team, which he also matched in Korea on route to a 14th place finish in the Formula One World Drivers Championship.

But at the end of 2011 Toro Rosso decided to axe both drivers and started to bed in Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne.

‘I never imagined that after Red Bull’s incomprehensible decision not to count on me in 2012, having done my best sporting season in F1, I would have to fight so much outside the track before finally assuming that in 2013 I will not be in F1, Alguersuari told Autosport Magazine.

He spent a lot of the 2012 season working as Pirelli’s test driver, which of course meant that unlike many other drivers due to testing restrictions, he is remaining sharp behind the wheel of a Formula One car and of course also brings added knowledge and experience of the rubber used in F1 which often proved crucial last season.

The Spaniard had believed that it was only going to be one year away from the track in F1 with a deal with an unnamed team all but signed.

‘I assure everyone that I have been convinced for most of the 2012 F1 season that my seat was secured in a team that usually scores.

‘So they did tell me and I believed it to be true.

‘Due to this conviction I passed up other opportunities in other championships. [Alguersuari has been heavily linked with moves to DTM – German Touring Cars]

‘Those who committed themselves with me have given me reasons that I must accept but that I do not share.

‘F1 has become an auction.’

That final quote makes the accusation that he has lost the seat that he believes he had secured during the 2012 F1 season to a driver who brings more finances to the team.

In modern day Formula One, especially young drivers now increasingly need to bring finances to a team to secure their seat.

This usually comes from sponsorship such as the Oil company that backs Pastor Maldonado at Williams, or the sponsors behind the likes of Sergio Perez at McLaren or the most recent high profile case of Marussia dispensing of Timo Glock in favour of the relatively unknown Luiz Razia purely for financial reasons.

Alguersuari despite proving his credentials during his time with the Red Bull development programme and driving for Toro Rosso is likely to need some form of support to fight his way back onto the grid in Formula One, because talent simply isn’t enough any more.